Dental implement.



A. MATTHEWS.

DENTAL IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 30. I915.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUsrIN MATTHEWS, 0E HARDY, 1\TEBRASKA, AssIeNoR or oNE HAIZE 'ro BENJAMI s.

BAKER, 0F oMAH NEBRASKA.

DENTAL IMPLEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, AUSTIN MATTHEWS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hardy, in the county of Nuckolls and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Implements, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in mouth mirrors forthe use, principally of dentists, and has for its object to providea portable implement of this class which may be readily adjusted for reflecting the rays of light at various desired angles, and will support an artificial light near the mirror, also to which disk-shaped mirrors of different sizes or diameters may beapplied, and which may beadjusted for the support of the mirror at required distances from the light.

With the foregoing objects in view and others to be mentioned, the invention presents a novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as described herein and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein,--

Figure 1 is a view of the device in side elevation, parts being in section, a storage cell being shown for electric lighting. Fig. 2 is a view of the same in side elevation, the form for the handle being modified, the lighting being arranged in connection with a direct'electrical current. Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1 to illustrate facility for extension or collapsing.

Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are details to fully illustrate construction. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the bulb holder and clasp. 5 is a view showing the back of the mirror to illustrate means for its adjustments longitudinally of1one ofthe arms. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the two hingeably connected arms. Fig. 7 is a transverse section on line 7 7 of Fig. 4, the scale being enlarged.

Referring now to the drawing for a more particular description, the implement consists of a handle 8 of any suitable form, pro vided at its distal end with a cylindrical casing or electric light bulb-holder 9, the

bulb for the electric light being indicated at 10. Electric energy may be derived fromany suitable source'for the electric light, as

the dry cell battery 11 shown in Fig. 1, ada ted to energize the conductors 12 and 13 y manually depressing the spring 14;

bulb holder.

which is mounted on the handle, for closing the electric circuit, or by use of the con-- having a rectangular part a and an outwardly curved part b, at the terminal of which is hinged, at 20, a second arm 21 of angular form.

The first named arm ma have bearings in the sleeve 17 to project orwardly of the casing 9, and will be non-rotatable since it conforms, in cross-section, to the shape of the sleeve, and it may have slidable movements therein subject to the control of a keeper 22. The arm 21 is provided with a slot 23 opening on its outer end. A reflector or mirror is indicated at 24. It is preferably of, disk-shape and may be removably secured to the arm 21 by means of ,a keeper 25 engaging in the slot 23.

As thus described, the arm 21 may be swung rearwardly or forwardly in an are substantially of 90 degrees, as may be required in the use of the implement, and since a screw is used for the pintle of the hingeable connection 20, the arms 19 and 21 may be secured in rigid relation. The mirror may therefore be disposed at any desired angle to the axis of the cylindrical casing or bulb-holder 9, this being of great advantage in the use of the implement. Also, since the arm 19 may bemoved longitudinally, the mirror may be disposed at desired distances from the light, which in many instances is of advantage, the said arm 19 being held, when the adjustment has been made, by the keeper 22. When used as a portable implement, or to protect the bulb from injury or an accu-. mulation of dust, the partsmay be secured as shown in Fig. 3, the curved part'b of the arm '19 being disposed in the slot 18 of the sleeve 17 to permit the mirror to make a closure of the open end ofthe cylindrical One of the uses for the slot 23 is to permit, in conjunction with the keeper 25, an adjustment of the mirror longitudinally of the arm 21; also since the slot 23 facilitates the mounting of the mirror, it is of utility for the reason that mirrors of different sizes or diameters may be readily mounted on said arm 21.

It is considered thatthe modified form for the elongated handle 8 shown in Fig. 2 is not a departure from the invention, since the handle, in either instance, provides a housing for the electrical conductors, also it provides a support at its terminal for the electric light bulb and a support for the ad justable parts employed in mounting the m1rror. Also it is considered that the adjustable features relating to the mirror, when used in connection with the handle as a support, would be useful in instances when to secure by Letters Patent is,-

A dental implement of the type described, including a light-bulb holder, at one end, said holder having integral therewith, upon incense its exterior, a sleeve provided with a socket having an aperture substantially rectangular in cross-section, itself having a slot opening at its outer end, an arm conforming in cross-section to, and received by said aperture, one end portion of said arm being curved outwardly and extending through said slot, a second arm of angular outline and connected to the first-referred-to arm, the connection between said arms being effected by a set-screw for theadjustment and retention of said angular arm at a given inclination, said angular arm being provided with a mirror, said sleeve also being provided with a set-screw for the retention of the first referred-to arm in operative position and to allow of the required longitudinal movement of said arm, among other purposes, forpositioning the mirror as a closure for said holder, the previous adjustment of the arm allowing of the positioning of the mirror thereon perpendicularly, preliminarily to the positioning of the mirror as a closure.

In testimony whereof, I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

AUSTIN MATTHEWS. /Vitnessesf Hnnnn A. Sroecns, ARTHUR H. Broncos. 

